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Peaks and Valleys Ski Report |
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Photo Gallery: Summer 2003 New!Winter Gallery |
Previous Report | Contact Us: steveriggs at shaw.ca |
| Here are reports and pictures from our ski tours with the Norseman Ski Club, updated often during the ski season, covering the whole range of free-heel skiing, from groomed tracks to backcountry powder. |
| Twelve skiers from the Norsemen Ski Club took in the final club overnight trip of the season, at the ACC Bow Hut on the eastern edge of the Wapta Icefield. This hut is a great base for a few days of fine skiing and this year was no exception. Shown here is a view of the hut and environs from Crowfoot Mountain, taken on last years Bow Hut trip. |
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After the usual slog across Bow Lake and then winding through the canyon, the route finally climbs out of the trees into the cirque below the hut. Looks like Donna and Jo are feeling a bit like packhorses here. Don't forget to look up and enjoy the view! |
| Once at the hut, we quickly dumped our heavy loads ( I questioned the wisdom of bringing beer several times on the way in) and continued up the toe of the glacier above the hut, to the nearby slopes below Mt. StNicholas. |
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The skiing here was excellent, 10-15 cms of new snow atop a firm, fast base. The slope starts off gently and gradually rolls over into steeper terrain overlooking the hut. Here's Barb going by. |
| It was too early to go in, so we headed back up for another run. |
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From just above the hut, looking back at our afternoons tracks. |
| It was a beautiful calm night, the moon and stars gave great visibility and the northern lights even put in a brief apppearance. I wandered around outside taking pictures while a dice game raged inside. Crowfoot Mountain shows clearly in the distance. |
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We split into two groups the next morning, here are Franz, Roy, Carol,and Inge, led by Ian, getting ready to go up Mt. StNicholas (on skyline) and Mt. Olive. These two peaks are accessed via a col on the usual Wapta Traverse route and feature as much foot travel as skiing. The rest of us have Mt. Gordon, an easy ski ascent, in mind. |
| Donna and Gord climbing the seemingly endless gentle north slope of Mt. Gordon, with the Wapta Icefield and the backside of Mt. StNick behind them. |
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Gord below the ice cliffs of Mt. Gordon |
| Jo gaining the summit ridge of Gordon, with the icefields and Mt. Rhondda South beyond. |
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Steve, Gord, Donna and Jo on the summit of Mt. Gordon (3200m). Despite some strong breezes at times on the way up, it was perfect picnicking weather on top and we hung out here for nearly an hour, taking in the 360 degree view of a sea of peaks. |
Here are four panoramas from Mt. Gordon, for larger versions click
here and continue clicking each sucessive panorama to view the next.
Northeast
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Southeast
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South
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West
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| Hans strikes a pose at the top, on his 69th. day on skis this season. |
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We were entertained during lunch by the antics of a pair of ravens. Seemingly fearless, they hung around just out of reach for a long time. The Wapta ravens are noteworthy for their ability to open pack zippers and remove any edibles inside. Many a skier on the traverse who has dumped a pack to do a quick ascent has learned this the hard way! |
| More acrobatics. |
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The descent was easy in fine windblown snow. Here's Brian arcing a turn. |
| Jo coming to a stop to rest the legs at about a third of the way down the slopes of Mt. Gordon. |
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Although very gentle, the turns were so much fun that most headed back up to the rock prow below the summit for a second run. The winds had pretty much filled in our tracks already. Gord is showing some fine form for a backcountry rookie. |
| Back at the hut, it was time to lighten the packs for the next days trip out by consuming the last of the beer and food. The other crew returned soon after, reporting a sucessful day on Mts. Olive and St. Nick. While we were gone, many other skiers had arrived and there was a full house of thirty. The moon came up and the clouds gathered at dusk, it looked like the fine weather was over. |
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We awoke on Sunday to poor visibility, cooler temperatures and blowing snowflurries. Half the group planned
on spending the morning at the hut while the rest of us would descend into the cirque below the hut, lighten the packs
by leaving excess stuff in garbage bags at the last trees, and do a day tour up Crowfoot Mountain. After a difficult descent of the melted and refrozen
crud below the hut though, the enthusiasm of most had waned, the weather was not improving and a group
decision was made to call it a day and continue down and out to the cars.Franz made a comment
about not wanting to spoil the memories of a perfect day on Crowfoot last April, and despite
my disapointment the decision was probably the right one. Who wants to finish up the season
with an injury from skiing in poor snow and flat light?
We arrived back at Num-Ti-Jah uneventfully in plus 8 degree c temps. for the traditional beer at the lodge.
All in all a fine weekend, two great days out of three on the Wapta is probably all one could ask for.
Thanks everybody for a fun time! Skiers: Franz Dopf, Hans Stolzenberg, Carol Guthrie, Roy Scarisbrick, Inge Stolz, Ian Graham, Donna Findlay, Gord Antonello, Barb Davis, Brian Dechene and trip co-ordinators Steve and Jo Riggs. To see what the five who went to Mts. St Nick and Olive did, instead of Mt. Gordon, click here to go to Carol Guthries fine webpage for another viewpoint on the weekend. Stay tuned, ski season is far from over yet! |
Words and pictures:Steve Riggs